Who among the following was an eminent Indian painter known for his contribution to modern art?

Introduction / Context:

This question tests knowledge of Indian cultural personalities across visual arts, dance, cinema and politics. Many names appear in exam options from these different fields, and the candidate must correctly match each person to the art form or domain they are famous for. Here, the focus is on identifying who was an eminent painter among the listed individuals.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The question asks specifically for an eminent Indian painter.
• Options include names known for painting, dance, film and political activity.
• We assume one of them is primarily recognised as a painter in art history references.
• The others are included as distractors from related creative and public fields.

Concept / Approach:

The correct association is that Sarada Ukil was an eminent Indian painter and part of a family of artists connected with modern Indian painting traditions. Uday Shankar was a pioneer of modern Indian dance, V. Shantaram was a celebrated film director and actor, Yusuf Meherally was a freedom fighter and political leader, and Alla Rakha is known as a Tabla maestro. By mapping each name to their main field, we can quickly identify the painter among them.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:

Verification can be done by remembering that discussions of modern Indian painting mention the Ukil brothers and their contribution to art institutions. On the other hand, dance histories focus on Uday Shankar’s innovations in choreography, and film histories emphasise V. Shantaram’s movies. Biographies of Yusuf Meherally highlight his role in the freedom movement. These clear separations confirm that the painter among the list is Sarada Ukil.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

Uday Shankar: Famous as a choreographer and dancer, often associated with modern Indian dance forms, not with painting.

V. Shantaram: A pioneering director and producer in Indian cinema, particularly known for socially themed films.

Yusuf Meherally: A political leader and freedom fighter who coined popular slogans, not a visual artist.

Alla Rakha: A legendary Tabla player and accompanist, especially known for performances with sitar maestros.

Common Pitfalls:

Some candidates see creative sounding names like Uday Shankar or V. Shantaram and assume they must be painters because of their association with the arts. Another pitfall is to guess based on incomplete familiarity with only one or two names. Building a simple reference list that ties each person to a specific art form or domain is a practical way to reduce such confusion.

Final Answer:

The eminent Indian painter among the options is Sarada Ukil.